Personal Family Lawyer in Caring for Elders

Gerald Kane

Attorney Gerald L. Kane founded Gerald L. Kane & Associates in 1994, located in Encino, California. As a Personal Family Lawyer™ with the Family Wealth Institute he has devoted the last fourteen years to helping thousands of families and businesses in southern California achieve their goals of protecting their wealth through innovative estate and business planning. Gerald likes to think of his firm as a caring, forward-looking, problem-solving vehicle for legally and financially transitioning families, especially today's young family with small children, into the future.

Nicole Newman

Endorsed Member

Newman Law Group 242 W Main St, Tustin, CA, USA

Attorney Nicole Y. Newman’s estate planning practice is focused on guiding her clients through the complicated and often confusing process of creating plans which encompass balancing family protection, preserving wealth, and reflecting cherished family values. Prior to opening her practice, Nicole was an associate at a Newport Beach firm that protected high-net worth families and their businesses through the design of sophisticated plans to pass along their assets with maximum protection from estate taxes, lawsuits, and probate litigation. In her own practice, she applies those same strategies to people in all financial brackets, knowing that everyone needs and deserves the same access to experienced guidance to protect their families and hard-earned assets. As a Personal Family Lawyer™, Nicole provides further benefits to her clients and their minor children through the Kid’s Protection Plan. She also encourages and guides her clients to pass along more than just their financial assets through the Priceless Conversation. By incorporating the principles of the Personal Family Lawyer™ program in her practice, Nicole seeks to become an on-going trusted advisor and lifelong resource to all her clients, assuring that she can be there for your family when you cannot be.

Alejandra Rodriguez

In practice since 2004, attorney Alejandra Rodriguez (who goes by Alex) is the principal and founder of Rodriguez Law Offices. She enjoys working with individuals and families as a trusted advisor. Alex works closely with her clients and assists them in navigating the estate planning landscape to design customized plans that will work for them and their families when it’s needed most.

Barry Crimmins

Attorney Crimmins has extensive experience as both a real estate broker and an attorney in the areas of Real Estate Law and Land Use Permitting, where he has represented a wide variety of both residential and commercial developers and property owners and businesses before various municipal boards and agencies, along with issues related to purchase and sale agreements, leases, and other landlord-tenant issues.

Benton Watson

Benton Watson is the founder of Watson Legal, P.C. Benton's practice at Watson Legal, P.C. focuses on business, family, and trusts and estates with emphases on life-long personalized service to families and entrepreneurs, representation of high level executives, and corporate representation of traditional businesses, law firms, small to medium sized start-ups, as well as high-tech, industrial, and midstream companies.

Brian Ton

Brian Ton is the founder of Satori Law Group, Inc. and strives to advise individuals and companies in estate planning, real estate transactions, and business and corporate law. Mr. Ton believes in prevention of potential conflicts to avoid costly litigations. To this end, Mr. Ton assists clients in forming proper estate plans, seeking to protect the clients’ interests at the same time minimizing future conflicts; and forming business entities, structuring appropriate business relationships among the parties, drafting and negotiating carefully thought out agreements.

Chris Barber

Christopher Barber has been focusing on various estate planning and wealth preservation strategies for almost two decades. Chris hung his shingle immediately after passing the bar with his solo practice in South East Houston. Estate planning became an interest after his father, a financial planner in California, referred Texas financial planners to him when he opened his practice.

Christine Robbins

Robbins Law Firm 132 Joe V Knox Ave, Mooresville, NC, USA

I am an estate planning attorney and mother to three amazing children! After working at very large law firms for over 18 years, I finally realized my dream of opening my own law firm where I could educate and serve families and small business owners that do not always have access to big firm attorneys. When I started my family 7 years ago, not only did I change as a person, but I started to look at my profession from an entirely new perspective...as a parent! I realized that parents with minor children are hugely under-served and overlooked by most law firms despite the fact that they probably need estate planning more than any other segment of our community. I am passionate about protecting my family, and I know I am no different than every other parent. My firm's number one priority to is to help families recognize how important estate planning is even if they don't think they have an "estate" worth planning because its not about the money, its about the ones that we love. I am so very blessed to be able to help families and family business owners in my community, and I really look forward to working with you!

Darlynn Morgan

Morgan Law Group 1500 Quail; Suite 540, Newport Beach, CA, USA

Darlynn Morgan is the founder of Morgan Law Group, an Orange County law firm focused on estate planning for the entire family. Her straightforward and easy to understand legal advice has been featured in a number of publications including Forbes.com OC Metro Magazine, and the OC Register. She was named a Super Lawyer by Southern California Magazine in 2010 and 2011, which is awarded to the top 5% of lawyers in southern California, in addition to being named a top OC Attorney by OC Metro Magazine in 2010.

Mr. Bernstein is licensed to practice law in Hawaii and California and is a member of the State Bar in both states. In Hawaii, he is a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association’s Probate and Estate Planning Section and the Elder Law Section. He has spoken at hundreds of estate planning educational seminars, and his talks are always engaging and easy to understand. Topics he may discuss include trusts, wills, powers of attorney, medical directives, death taxes, long-term care planning, and asset protection planning.

Doug Koenig

In 2010, I established a compassionate Elder Law practice, which is focused on planning. My goal is to help you get to a place where you are comfortable with preparation for life’s transitions. This covers four main areas, including Veteran’s benefits, Medicaid planning and crisis response, Special Needs Trusts, and Estate Planning and the related wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. On December 8, 2015, I was selected as a Top Attorney​ in NC for Who’s Who. In late 2016 I was selected as a finalist for Entrepreneurial Attorney of the Year by Richard James. I didn’t win, but it was quite an honor!

Geoff Hoatson

Family First Firm 1212 Mount Vernon Street, Orlando, FL, USA

Growing up in Central Florida as the son of a physician I remember conversations about lawsuits; about a family colleague who had been named in a suit and lost everything; about suits that could occur from automobile or private property accidents. My family felt they had an increased exposure and after graduating from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Economics I applied to Law School with the focus of helping others live without fear.

Jeff Lally

Hub Law Group P. C. 175 Derby Street, Suite 9, Hingham, MA, USA

…when people meet me for the first time and learn that I am a lawyer, many are surprised. Their expectation is that lawyers are “flashy, slick operators” – and that’s just not who I am. I like to think my calm and caring demeanor and desire to educate and truly do the right things for my clients will set me apart from the stereotypical lawyer. Being to some extent the “anti-lawyer” has its pitfalls. Let me give you some examples … One of my law firms areas of focus is Estate Planning. I’m in competition with the “do it yourself on-line” resources all the way up to up to and including the big law firms that give the clients “just what they ask for” – (not what they need). On one end of the spectrum, you get what you pay for … the cheapest possible “estate plan“. But here’s the problem … most of those “plans” are inadequate and truly do not address all of the needs of the “virtual client” … and guess what – the virtual client will never know or be able to rectify the problem because they’re dead before anyone finds out. The responsibility to get the estate straightened out then falls to loved ones … at more legal expense typically than doing it right in the first place (!). Never mind that this time should be reserved for allowing the family to grieve. Have you ever had a Sam Kinison moment? Remember the comedian who used to punctuate his jokes by screaming the punch line? The client will never know BECAUSE THEY’RE DEAD! But this is no joke! Never mind that his estate was a shambles, this is all too often the reality of “cheap, on-line” solutions. At the other end of the spectrum is the client that says “Can you draw me up a will” … and that’s exactly what the lawyer does … without understanding or explaining the full scope of the clients’ estate. I call this “the path of least resistance” type of law firm … they’ll make a bit of money, but guess what … if it is not completely adequate the client will never know BECAUSE … you get the idea.

Joshua Meier

Meier Law Firm 1303 Avocado Avenue, Suite 230, Newport Beach, CA, USA

Joshua is an Orange County business and estate planning attorney, business owner, husband, and dad of four great kids focused on helping families and businesses achieve their dreams. He excels in helping families meet their financial, legal, and moral obligations to their loved ones by creating estate, business, and life plans that ensure their family’s complete protection and well-being.

Lori Somekh

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, Lori R. Somekh was admitted to practice law in New York and the Federal Courts. She established her own firm in 1997. Ms. Somekh enjoys serving her clients’ elder law needs especially those affecting their health and wealth. She has served in guardianship cases as court evaluator, court-appointed counsel, temporary guardian and guardian-ad-litem. She has served as a Judicial Hearing Officer for the State of New York, where hearing appeals of real property tax reductions cases. Prior to building a successful elder advocacy firm, Ms. Somekh was assistant vice president of First Northern Mortgagee Corp., and an associate of Cullen & Dykman, one of New York City’s oldest and largest law firms.

Michele Marxkors Kelsaw

MK Legal Planning 1000 N. Pine Street, Suite A, Rolla, MO, USA

Attorney Michele Marxkors Kelsaw’s practice focuses on a proactive approach to law. Michele uses the law to assist clients in developing legal strategies to ensure that their families and businesses are well taken care of during their lifetimes and beyond.

Robert Everhart

I have been practicing law since 1987. My career has included drafting wills, solving problems with real estate as well as extensive work in the field of consumer and business bankruptcy. More recently, I’ve focused my practice on estate planning. From representing people in bankruptcies and real estate issues, I have seen what can go wrong. I bring this experience to work for you and accomplish your goals.

Robert Maher

Robert J. Maher, Esq. earned a Juris Doctor from St. John’s University School of Law in 2006. He was admitted to the state bar of New Jersey in 2006, and New York in 2007. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked as a high school social studies teacher in New York City for 13 years. He has lived and worked in Dublin, Ireland and Kunming, China. Mr. Maher earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and History from Marquette University (1989) and a Master of Arts in Teaching Social Studies from Columbia University Teachers College (1994).

Ruby Wake

Wake Law LLC 350 E. Robertson Street – 2nd Floor, Brandon, FL, USA

Attorney Ruby Wake’s estate planning practice focuses on helping families enhance their lives today and secure their futures tomorrow. She excels in guiding her clients through the often confusing maze of financial and legal decisions. This can only be accomplished by creating plans that ensure the well-being of their families and the accomplishment of cherished family goals. Her considerable legal expertise includes family protection and wealth preservation, as well as planning strategies for unmarried couples and divorced individuals. Whether you are married or single, with a traditional family or blended one, just starting out or looking back on a life well-lived, Ruby will help you to craft a plan that achieves your goals for your loved ones today and for years to come.

Vanessa began her legal career as a Trust Administrator for Wells Fargo, N.A., where her experience working closely with clients, portfolio managers, beneficiaries and other attorneys shed light on how a poor estate plan can ruin a family’s fortune and more importantly, their relationships.

Yael N. Lazar

Yael N. Lazar earned her undergraduate degree from SUNY at Stony Brook and her law degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1995 and served as a law clerk to the Honorable Ira J. Raab in the 1st District Court of Nassau County. Shortly after, she opened her own matrimonial and family law practice, which included not only divorce, custody and child support cases, but estate planning and real estate closings. After finding that many of her clients were left with tax issues following their divorces, Yael formed IRSAngel, a separate department of her firm that handled all aspects of tax resolution work, tax planning and tax preparation. She is passionate about helping families with issues that influence their lives. Yael devotes her work to her belief that family is so much more than wealth, and that the protection of human assets is of immeasurable importance.